Sacred Code in the Space of Kalmyk Traditional Dwelling

Abstract

Introduction. The article discusses sacred codes in the space of Kalmyk traditional dwelling. Goals. The work aims to reconstruct the sacred space of Kalmyk traditional dwelling, restore symbolic meanings of its zones, and compare them to those of a modern home. Materials and Methods. The paper analyzes materials collected by I. A. Zhitetsky and P. I. Nebolsin who had explored Kalmyk traditional lifestyles. The mentioned texts describe both Kalmyk traditional dwellings, household activities, and respective sacred zones with various ritual attributes. The study employs descriptive, synchronous-diachronous, comparative methods, and that of reconstruction. Results. The nomadic way of life implied that the nomad’s portable dwelling was viewed as a small world model, and all objects inside thus served as polysemantic symbols, which made it possible to use them in two contexts simultaneously — sacred and mundane (household) ones. When assembling a traditional nomadic yurt, the Kalmyks would mark its external and internal borders through installation of special poles central to the gradually expanding and well-ordered living space. The fact that Kalmyk yurts had no supporting pillars used to be compensated through ritual actions near the pole located in the altar part, and delineation of two zones along the northwest and southeast axes marking centers of the male and female sides respectively, thus replicating two vertical projections similar to supporting pillars in dwellings of other Turko-Mongols. Sacralization of the inner space was achieved through installation and forming of the altar; the latter included a ritual pole with an offering cup which replicated most significant (ancestral) constant symbols of mountain and tree. The shape of the pole, its localization, and various related ritual actions make it possible to suggest its symbolic tie to a hitching post as a polysemantic symbol of Turko-Mongolian spiritual and material cultures.

Keywords

• kalmyks
• traditional dwelling
• sacred zone
• pole
• ancestor worship
• hitching post